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FROM RECTOR:

FAQ: Giving Something Up for Lent Q: Why do we “give up” something up for Lent? A: “Giving something up” for Lent is rooted in the tradition of fasting for 40 days (can you imagine?!) in preparation for the Great Easter Feast. Originally, the Easter Vigil was a time where the early Church baptized and welcomed new members of the community. The 40 days before Easter served (and still serve) as a time to ready one’s self for baptism. Q: Are you suggesting I give up eating for 40 days? A: No, of course not. In contemporary times, the reason we give something up is to help us experience a sense of self denial, which in the process hopefully reminds us of our dependence on God. Q: You keep saying “40 days” but aren’t there 46 days between Ash Wednes-day and Easter? A: Yes, that’s true, but when we talk about the “40 days of Lent” we are not including the Sundays. These are “Feast Days”. Q: Does that mean I can eat all the chocolate cake on Sundays that I want? A: That’s up to you. There are some who take the opportunity to feast on Sundays, but for others the break in their disciplines becomes even more difficult. If giving up your fast helps you celebrate the Lord’s Day on Sundays, go for it! Q: I’ve heard that some people “take on” something instead of “giving up”, is that ok too? A: Of course it is. A Lenten discipline isn’t about being right or wrong, but about setting apart a time of the year where you intentionally find yourselves encountering God. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ~

March 2017

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Vestry Members

Wardens

2016-2018 Sally Nelson (1st full term) 2017-2019 David Moeri (1st term) Vestry

2016-2018 Peter Henry (1st full term)

Cindy Litchfield (1st term) Jim Howell (elected to fill out unexpired term of Paul Stuart)

2017-2019 Bruce MacKay (1st full term) Gail Pratt (1st term) Paula Paciulan (1st full term) Clerk

2016-2018 Fay Morlock (1st of 4 allowable terms) Treasurer (Appointed bi-annually at first Vestry meeting following Annual meeting )

2016-2018 Earle Rosse (3rd of four allowable terms)

+ + + + + + ++ + + + + ++ + + + ++ + ++

Delegates to Convention

2016-2018 David Moeri (1st term) Gail Pratyt (1st term) 2017-2019 Marilyn Bragg (2nd term) Peter Henry (2nd term) Alternates to Convention

2016-2018 Jackie Thesse (1st term) Jane Darnell (1st term)

Youth Delegate OPEN

Q: What are you giving up this year for Lent? A: I’ve found in the past that giving up coffee has been most challenging (and rewarding), but with a baby in the house I think will be much too difficult. This year I’m giving up “buying” coffee (this includes tea). If I make it at home, that’s ok, but no money will be spent on coffee/tea out during Lent - sorry, Starbucks. Also, I should add, that this could be quite a cost savings for me, and I’m not sure that’s the point of Lent either, so all money I WOULD have spent during Lent will be donated to Episcopal Relief and Development. If you’d like to join my in my fast, let me know. Q: Are you taking anything on? A: I am, in fact. While you’d like to think the Daily Office is already part of your rector’s daily routine, it often is not. During the month of Lent, I am coventening to practice daily Morning Prayer. Please, keep me honest and ask how that discipline is going.

Ash Wednesday is on March 1st.

St. Peter’s has two liturgies of Holy Eucharist

with the Imposition of Ashes at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

2 Diana Giuffrida 3 Scott White 5 Jane Darnell 8 Matthew Cooper 11 Judy Lenfest 13 Linda Crapsey Betsy Martin Catherine Whitehead

18 Philip Jerauld 24 John Pezzetti 27 Betty Gilkinson Jackie Thesse 28 Bruce MacKay 31 Mary Hedley

March Birthdays

ST. ANDREW’S FOOD PANTRY

Thank you for your continued support of St. Andrew’s Food Pantry. Food donations may be left on the shelf in the back of the fellowship hall and are delivered to St. Andrew’s on the first and third Saturday of the month. March is Peanut Butter and Jelly Month! Hearty soups, stews and chili provide year-round availability of protein and many nutrients. All contributions are appreciated and may include food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and paper goods as well as the “Food of the Month”. Thank You!

St. Peter’s Fourth Annual Chili Cookoff Contest will be held on Saturday, April 1st, from 4:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. at the church located at 3 Peabody Row in Londonderry. Once again, 25 teams of cooks are expected to face off for bragging rights in this fundraising event. Net proceeds will go to support St. Peters’ and Family Promise of Rockingham County. Family Promise helps children and their families experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire get back on their feet. Their vision is that every family has a home, a livelihood, and a chance to build a better future together. All are invited to bring a crockpot of chili using their favorite recipe. The public is also invited to enter. A sign up sheet will be posted. For a $10 donation, people will be able to sample competitors' chili while enjoying country and western entertainment. Kids 10 and under are just $5. Attendees will also be able to vote on their favorite chili to win the people's choice award. Awards will also be given for best overall chili as determined by our celebrity judges. Plenty of fun for the kids too, with Kid’s Choice voting and treasure filled pinatas waiting to be broken. Cook registration is at 4:15 pm, dining from 4:30 to 6:00, and awards at 6 PM. To register, email Lee O’Connor @ loconnor621@gmail.com or call 781-801-8161.

Reminder! Remember that Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 12th, at 2:00 am. Set your clocks ahead by one hour the night before.

“Book of Joy” Lenten Series: This year join the people of

St. Peter’s and Transfiguration in Derry as we read The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We’ll meet on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. You can buy the book ahead of time, but we’ll copies on hand for $15.00. For more information, call Colin: (203) 679-1002.

March 8th: Transfiguration

March 15th: St. Peter’s

March 22nd: St. Peter’s

March 29th: Transfiguration

April 5th: St. Peter’s

Family Promise of Greater Rockingham County is a local affiliate of a national organization. Family Promise, founded in 1988 in Summit, New Jersey, now has over 185 affiliates in 42 states. Our Interfaith Hospitality Network program assists homeless families in securing permanent housing. 18 local congregations currently participate in the Network, making 11 host sites. Our Interfaith Hospitality Network program assists homeless families in securing permanent housing. 18 local congregations currently participate in the Network, making 11 host sites. Support congregations, those who cannot host families but want to help, provide financial support or volunteers. Congregations host families 4-6 times per year. Families are taken to a Day Center from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There they can shower, do laundry, and care for preschool-age children. Using the day center address and phone, they look for employment and housing. School-aged children are able to remain in their home schools. A full-time Network Director and part-time case managers provide intensive case management and education in areas such as job skills, budgeting, nutrition, and parenting to help families regain independence. Local agencies assist in finding housing, jobs, and medical and government assistance. Transportation. Family Promise provides van transportation for guests to and from the Day Center, the host congregation sites, and other needed appointments. Volunteers work at host congregations and the Day Center. They cook serve meals, play with children, help with homework, interact with guests, and provide overnight on-site support. They help families move into their new homes, deliver donated items, and much more.

How to Help Get your congregation to become a Host Congregation. Donate on our website or by check to Family Promise of GRC, Inc.,

145 Hampstead Rd., Derry, NH 03038.

Contact us to volunteer time. Please see the wish list for Family Promise on next page.

Spring Craft Fair Planning Session: March 12

Please join us if you are interested in brainstorming ideas to improve the fair, increase foot traffic, etc. These planning sessions have been very successful in generating new ideas and helping to make the fair more efficient and attractive to the community. All are welcome to attend. We will meet after the 10 am service in the sanctuary. Just grab some coffee/tea, goodies and come back in the sanctuary about 10 minutes after the service concludes. Look forward to seeing you there! Mary Ann Moeri

“GREEN LIVING TIP OF THE MONTH” Genius ways to use apple cider vinegar: it is not just a salad dressing!!

First of all, ACV is chock full of good for you nutrients like iron, calcium and potassium that may help keep the germs in our bodies under control.

Make a non-toxic all purpose cleaner by using 1 part ACV with 1 part water, filter in to a spray bottle and get to work.

Soothes an upset stomach. Just dilute in some water and drink.

Helps relieve sore muscles and can also get rid of warts.

Apply on bug bites, poison ivy or anything that is itchy.

Soothe a sore throat. Mix 1/4 cup ACV with an equal amount of water and gargle.

Clears your sinuses. My personal recipe is: 2 tsps honey, 2 tsps ACV

and 1Tbls lemon juice mixed with hot water. Drink 3 times a day

Use to whiten your teeth and also use diluted as a mouth wash.

Keep your pets pest free. 1 part ACV to 1 part water.

These are only a few examples of ACV uses. I hope you may find

them useful.

Blessings, Jackie

Dave and Colin are still working on a job description for the position of Sexton. Water in basement: We now have new sump pumps, but we need some new electrical work. If the pumps stop working (as the old ones did after 25 years) there will be some indication. An estimate of $12,000 has been received for basement repairs. Marilyn Bragg, Peter Henry and Dave Moeri are inventorying the basement’s contents. The maximum amount St. Peter’s may receive from the insurance company is about $50,000. The settlement is more likely to be about $35,000. We will work on “reimagining the space” while on the Vestry Retreat. Other Business: Coffee Hour has been kind of hit-or-miss lately. Perhaps a bigger signup sheet and announcements in church would help. Vestry members will be called upon to be liasons with other committees in the church. The Vestry Retreat will be held on February 11th at St. Christopher’s Church, Hampstead, NH, 9-2. Lunch will be provided. Peace message: The rainbow flag on the carriage barn is great, but what about a peace flag, too? Noel suggests a message of “peace through justice”. A motion to close the Vestry meeting was offered by Paula, seconded by Peter. Passed. Adjourned at 9:30.

FAMILY PROMISE WISH LIST

Drop off items between 9am and 5pm at the Day Center. 145 Hampstead Road, Derry. Cleaning Products. Disinfecting wipes, high-efficiency (HE) laundry

detergent, kitchen drawstring trash bags, dish detergent, sponges. Paper Products. Tissues, paper plates, paper napkins, ziploc gallon

freezer storage bags, ziploc sandwich bags, drawstring tall kitchen trash bags.

Office Supplies. Avery 5160 mailing labels, paper pocket folders, sheet protectors, highlighters. Legal size envelopes, copy paper, two-pocket, three ring file folders, black Sharpie markers, post-Its, all sizes, masking tape.

Hygiene Products. Liquid hand sanitizer, liquid hand soap, baby shampoo and wash, shampoo and conditioner, razors –men and women, shaving cream, sanitary pads and tampons, puffs, tweezers, nail clippers and files, powder, Vaseline.

Baby/Child Items. Playtex Diaper Genie, Playtex Diaper Genie refills, diapers – all sizes, baby wipes.

WalMart or Target gift cards (to purchase undergarments, socks)

Gas station gift cards Advil & Tylenol (adult, child, infant) Saline Mucinex

Pillows

Pantry Items – Perishable. Milk (whole, 1% or skim), eggs, butter, fruits and vegetables, meats, whole wheat bread, lunch meat, cheese – block and string, cream cheese

Pantry Items – Non-Perishable. Rice, school snacks (healthier indi-vidually packaged snacks for kids, e.g., granola bars, pretzels, fruit juice snacks, rice cakes, etc.), canned beans, ginger ale, bottled wa-ter, juice boxes (100% juice)

Other. iParty gift cards (for family birthday and graduation celebra-tions), Queen & Twin size sheet sets.

Children’s Choir In preparation for Holy Week (Palm Sunday and Easter) the children’s choir will have rehearsals on March 12, 19, 26, and April 2, immediately following the 10 a.m. service. Emery

St. Peters Episcopal Church Minutes of the meeting

January 19, 2017

Attendees: Rev. Colin Chapman, Warden David Moeri, Warden Sally Nelson, Vestry members Peter Henry, Bruce MacKay, Cindy Litchfield, Paula Paciulan, Noel Cartwright, Fay Morlock, Earle Rosse (by phone) The meeting was opened with a prayer by Colin. A motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting was offered by Noel, seconded by Sally. Passed. Treasurer’s Report Telephone connection was established with Earle Rosse, promised to email the 2017 budget so the Vestry can review it before the Annual Meeting. The Income and Expenses Report for Fiscal Year End 2016 was reviewed. St. Peter’s finished the year with 20K more than budgeted. We took in more money than expected for Allocated Funds, but received less than expected from paid pledges. Expenses in many categories remained pretty flat. The most significant change was our Clergy expenses. Health Insurance expenses will continue to go up. Property expenses were higher than planned, with the stained glass window repair and the door replacement. 2016 was “overall, not bad”. Earle is concerned that pledges are not keeping up with expenses. 2017’s budget includes an increased amount from pledging, but if the “pledge but not pay” trend continues there will be distress. Dave asked if the trend was present in years past. For the last 3-4 years, pledges paid have trailed pledges made by $5,00-$10,000. The 2017 budgeted pledges are about $118,000, so our actual receipts might be more like $110,00-$111,000. Our Fair Share payment to the Diocese has been higher than the amount we budgeted. St. Peter’s doesn’t learn the amount of its Fair Share until about March of the year. A motion was offered by Sally to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Dave. Passed. 2017 Budget Colin expressed concern for presenting this deficit budget at the upcoming Annual Meeting. This is not St. Peter’s first deficit budget. Earle said that presenting a budget in which the numbers had been adjusted to show a balance would be disingenuous. In order to fix the deficit, two things should happen: we might get lucky on maintenance issues this year, and parishioners just have to give more. More rent from more crafters at Craft Fairs isn’t going to fix the deficit.

We have about $30,000 in the bank now. If 2017 follows our expected budget, we will spend it all and have nothing left to spare. This is an unsustainable trajectory. Paula moved to accept the 2017 Budget as presented, seconded by Peter. Passed. Rector’s Report: Pledge Clerk: Sarah Nelson will transition into the office of Pledge Clerk, filled by Elizabeth Flumignan for many years. The Chili Cook-off has been tentatively planned for April 1st. Colin will attend a “Regional Revival” event with our Presiding Bishop. It will be in Pittsburgh, PA the first week of February. The next youth event will be bowling on January 28th. Mary Sobolewski will assist with the administrative duties related to Church School. Fay moved that the Vestry go into Executive session, Sally seconded. Passed. Paula moved that the Vestry come out of Executive session, Sally seconded. Passed. Nominating Committee: Jim Howell and Gail Pratt have agreed to stand for election to the Vestry. Annual Meeting The format will be quite different this year, with the meeting interlaced with the Worship Service. We meet as a parish to celebrate, not just as a business meeting. Peter voiced concerns that only 2 candidates were being offered for 2 positions. Dave reminded that we would need to have a table at the entrance to the church for attenders to sign in before the service. Property Committee Lots of cigarette butts are littering the entrance area. We need to purchase a place to deposit them. The mailbox was hit by a snowplow again, breaking the wooden post. Maybe the location could be moved from Peabody Row to a where it would be less likely to be hit. Dave will follow up. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ~